Anybody using vinyl laminate flooring?

[ROHfan]

We're gonna be re-doing the LR and the laminate is a very inexpensive option and looks real nice. I don't have the cash to go for the high quality solid hardwood so I'm looking at options. A friend of mine loves his and the laminates seem to get some good reviews on the internet. Depending upon the brand I hear that they're extremely durable, in some cases more so than real wood. Any opinions?

[kevhed72]

Do you mean like Pergo flooring, or actual vinyl....
?

[cubdog]

Probably a good option if you have large dogs. Our Dane and Lab really tore up our wood floors at our last house. I think the laminates are much better and nicer looking than they used to be.

cubdog

[polrbehr]

Did our BR last year with Estate Cherry laminate (clearance at HomeD, I think it was $.89 sq. ft?).

Piece of cake to install, and looks as good as the day we put it in.

Two things if you go the DIY route - stagger your joints (I know, you will lose some to waste... do it anyway) like you would for a hardwood install. It's just every other row, it will not amount to much and it's cheap enough anyway.

Do all your cutting outside. The dust from that stuff is extremely fine (and slippery), and will get onto everything.

[codyc1ark]

I helped the fiancee's sister do her hallway and bedroom with this last year, as polrbehr states, stagger your joints, and you shouldn't have any issues. Great product, easy to use. SHE did skimp and find the cheepest she could, and we had just a few issues with fit here and there, but nothing an razor blade didn't take care of. Good luck!

[blueboxer]

Laminate is a good option for high traffic homes or homes with large animals. I went with walnut floors, it has held up well to two large and high energy dogs, but there are scratches to either fill or refinish from time to time. I went with a distressed wood, so when I see a scratch I use a black filler and it just adds to the look. If that is something that will drive you crazy laminate is a great option. There is also some porcelain tile that looks like wood that I have seen and really liked. Lumbarliquidators is a great site to use as well.

[ROHfan]

Thanks for the replies. I'm going to Disney next week and when I get back I plan on starting. Will probably do so skim coating on the walls, paint them, then do the floor. I'll be adding a new TV stand/audio center and some new Polk in-walls for the surrounds and keep the M60 fronts and upgrade to a CS2 center. Then we add the big LED TV soon after. We'll probably spend a lot more time watching movies which is a good thing considering I'll be broke after the remodeling!

[ROHfan]

Do you mean like Pergo flooring, or actual vinyl....
?

Yeah, like Pergo or Harmonics.

[blueboxer]

Is this on a first floor or second floor?

[ROHfan]

Is this on a first floor or second floor?

First (and only) floor, main entrance, high traffic. No dogs, but two kitties.

[dee1949]

...about staggering the joints...the piece you cut to end one row...you use the remainder to start next row. Leave 1/4" between baseboard and use shoe molding to cover gap...for expansion and contraction. if it is going on concrete they provide a roll of vinyl to lay down first. The floor floats on top. Vapor barrier and prevents squeaks.